Westside Community Radio, who are in partnership with the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust and can be found on 89.6FM, caught up with Bees Manager Andy Scott at the training ground on Thursday morning.

Andy, looking at last Saturday's game against Rotherham, it was a difficult game. Would you consider that a good point?

Yes. Looking at the game, it wasn't a great game of football. Certainly, Rotherham came and changed their side by playing an extra midfielder making it difficult to get the ball to our front players and we didn't pass it as well as we have done. We looked solid at the back and managed to get a valuable point. There weren't many chances in the game but we were the team that had the better of them.

You've gone over five hours without conceding a goal in the league. Are you concentrating a lot on defensive work at the moment in training?

We've got the two loan players in Jamie Wilson and Alan Bennett and we are working on the defensive side of our game but not at the expense of our attacking game. Hopefully, it comes together on a match day to put both parts together. The back four and the goalkeeper have worked hard together but it is a group effort to keep clean sheets. We've been able to keep clean sheets and we want to continue doing that but at the same time we want to be more progressive in our forward play and that will come in time as well. We've got players who can score goals, so I have no worries about that.

You've mentioned about the 11 man defending principle and the team certainly seem to have bought into that way of thinking.

Last year, we were not creating many chances but conceding very poor goals and it's hard to decide which to eradicate first. But the players I have brought in are good enough to create chances but as long as we are strong defensively then it gives us more chances to win tight games and keep a clean sheet.

Is it fair to say that probably in the first half of last season that was a game we would have lost?

Yes. I think so. We had a lot of inexperienced players last season and they wouldn't have recognised that at times you have to battle and settle for a point and not concede a goal. This season, we have more experienced players who can read the way the game is going and can dig in to get a foothold back in the game and push on from there.

Do you agree with the adage that although you can't win the league at this stage you can certainly lose ground and the point you gained against Rotherham will count you in good stead towards the end of the season.

Well, Rotherham had a 100% record prior to playing us and they've beaten 2 Championship sides in the Carling Cup. Despite their point's deduction, they are a decent side and they were in the top half of the table last season. They will take plenty of points off other teams and whilst I wanted 3 points, I would consider that a point gained.

Tuesday night's Johnstone's Paint Trophy match against Yeovil was a totally different game?

I changed a few things around and gave some players who hadn't played in a while a run out and they all acquitted themselves very well. We passed it much better which was pleasing especially against a League One side that had only lost one game so far. I was disappointed that we only went in 2-1 up at half time but having said that we did play well in the first half and it was pretty even in the second half. I was happy that we got through on penalties as the team really deserved it.

You've spoken about your player options before and with Alan Connell departing, how big a bonus was that for you for Ross Montague to get in 25 minutes and score a penalty in the shoot out?

Monty's worked very hard and he was asking when he could come back and Tuesday was an ideal opportunity to give him some match time. Obviously, he's lacking match sharpness but he did well when he came on and he's happy to be involved and it is a major boost for us as well. It gives us something different to consider with our team selection.

Had you practiced penalties during the week?

To be honest, we hadn't but I wasn't short of volunteers with eight people wanting to take one. So that's the sign of the confidence of the boys. I said to them, 'just be positive. If you score great, if you don't, never mind but don't change your mind.' I also said to keeper Seb Brown, it's a chance for you to be hero. Go and enjoy being in the spotlight and he saved a very good penalty.

From your own point of view, it was your first time in a penalty shoot out as a manager. How was it for you?

It's not as much pressure in the Johnston Paint Trophy as in a really big cup tie such as The F.A. Cup or Carling Cup but it is still nice to win one. We want to keep the unbeaten run going and we want to progress in any cup we take part in. It's one out of one for me as a manager as far as penalty shoot outs is concerned!

Turning to Saturday's home game with Dagenham, it seems even at this early stage of the season each game has assumed great importance. What has been your approach this week bearing in mind the mid week JPT cup tie?

All the players that weren't involved on Tuesday did a full session prior to the game and the lads on the bench did some work after the Yeovil match. We have subsequently prepared as normal for the game on Saturday like we have every other week. Everyone is getting back to near full fitness and we've got a fairly decent squad to choose from. We're losing James Wilson (to international duty) on Saturday which is a bit of blow but we had Mark Phillips come in and play a full game on Tuesday and did very well. We've got options everywhere and it's a big game as we can't afford teams to get too far ahead of us and if we beat Dagenham we will be on the same points total as them. We want to try and be in that top group of 6 to 8 teams and the further you break away then the better it is and people see you in a different light and they become worried about you instead of concentrating on their own game plan. We're confident in any game we play and we believe that we can beat any team in this league on our day and that is no different for this Saturday.

Finally, Greg Dyke has issued a challenge to lapsed fans and fans of Premiership teams whose team may be playing away to come down to Griffin Park this Saturday and have another look at Brentford as things have moved forward with the club. What would you like to add to what Greg Dyke has said?

I would certainly echo Greg's thoughts. We can all understand why fans have left and stayed away in the past because I openly admit it hasn't been great for the last couple of years but hopefully at some stage people will see the changes that have been made and we are improving both ON and OFF the field. People understand where mistakes were made and we are trying to rectify those but we can only do that with the support of all the fans that have been there over the years. I urge them to come back and watch good football but with a team of spirited footballers who are desperate to do well for the club. We've got no mercenaries here and they are a good set of lads that have come here to play football for Brentford Football Club and not just pick up money. I think the fans appreciate that and if we can get more people back in then they will enjoy it and they can support us and hopefully we can be successful as a group.

Interview by Luis Melville - Westside Radio - The New Sound Of West London